Work for RR

This is work i've done in a RR journal. Sometimes the themes chosen just do not inspire me. Anyway I hope she likes it.

knowing what to keep

 I purchased this journal in 2000 and recently rediscovered it.  I've never, ever been one to consistly keep a journal.  A few pages here and there but never filling them up.  I sat down with this journal yesterday and began reading the prompts, bits of wisdom, and such and was totally amazed that I did not keep this journal up.  I tried  to see if the company still published these  but they are apparently out of business.  I went to check at Amazon.  One copy available for $99.00.  Good Grief, wish I had bought every single one of them now.  

Here is the frot cover of a new art book, "Exploring the Latest Trends in Mixed Media Art  Volume 11 "     I am honored to have a piece of my work in this book.  It is also at the bottom of the book cover.  It's my Gypsy Wagon, it contains three small journals .  This is one of my favorite pieces I've ever created.

This  is a new piece. I love the earthy look of this cold connection jewelry.   I hope to get this blog set up soon to be able to sell from for anyone interested.

This is a new piece being taught as a free class at newtrendsinmixedmediaart yahoo group.

YIPEEEE!! Radiation finished!!!!

Whew!!! I finally finished my radiation treatments on Friday.  I am truely blessed because the worse side effect I've had is the burning in my throat area and a degree of fatigue.  I was able to drive myself the entire time so that was good.    Back to my art room tomorrow to work on jewelry.  A blessed week to all.  

Round Robins

I finished working in a Round Robin art journal today and went to mail it and almost fell out.  It will be going to Australia so I knew it would be costly but my goodness.  I am now sending it in a flat rate envy and it is still over 12.00   Art journals are not like altered books in that they don't have things added to them that will affect their weight.  I am in one other round robin and when I finish that one, I am bowing out.  Postage is just too darn high.  :(

Dilemma of the day

Mad Scientist Experiment Runs Amuck!!!!!!!

Today I tried to rid my etching tub of ferric chloride and created a disaster.  I forgot I had added baking soda water into a small bowl a few days back and poured it all into a large container with the ferric chloride.  A volcano of puffy, boiling, sizzling, spewing mess came pouring out of my throw away container.  This stuff took on a life of it's own.  Sort of like the big marshmellow man in the movie Ghost Busters.  Now, the dilemma, where to put this stuff?????  Well, all I know to do with it is put as much as I could in a gargage bag and then hose off the table and deck floor.  I've probably contaminated the whole neighborhood.   

Sometimes I think I need to be locked up.

Abundance Doll Finished

This is my finished doll.  I made the raven from sculpy and put the frog in the wicker cage.  This was a really enjoyable class.  I love her jacket.
This is a close up of the frog in the cage and the raven.

Doll Class

I signed up for a doll class at dollstreetdreamers.com with Angelia Jarecki for her ABUNDANCE doll.  I am soooo enjoying this class.  Angelia is my favorite doll artist so it is a treat to get to take another class with her.  I will post this lovely doll when I finish her.  Her coat is a collage of fabrics and she is holding a raven, one of my favorite birds.  I've dyed fabrics for her flowing dress and am almost finished with collaging the coat.  

This piece has a watch at the bottom and  charms that add to the time theme .

cold connection jewelry

This is the back side of the etched angel.

This is a piece I metal etched using ferric chloride.  I am just beginning to learn to do this and threw away five pieces that just did not do.  I love the finish on this.
These are a cute pair of earrings made with rivets.  I used  small 11/16 weatherstrip nails on the round piece.  I cut it to about 1/8 inch, drill a hole and push the nail through.  Flip over to the back side and hammer it flat.  It will be secure and next to impossible to remove. 

Grandma’s Potato Soup – sometimes there is nothing better than a steaming hot pot of soup.

Grandma’s Potato Soup – sometimes there is nothing better than a steaming hot pot of soup.

Due to radiation treatment effects, I will be eating softer foods and found this recipe.  Thought I would share it.  

This is a new piece of cold connection jewelry that I am making.  I have three new pieces that need to be  finished.  I love this stuff.  It seems to go with everything .   The back side of this piece has a angel stamped on the back.  She is barely visible, just like real angels.  

I love this piece.  It is a silk transfer with more pretty stuff.

These are some of my little pouches.  I love these.  They hang from a black cord but are just large enough to hold money, credit card and lipstick.  What else does a woman need?

These are printed on silk and embellished with pretty "stuff"

 New bag.

These are some new jewelry pieces.  Solder and charms.
I don't know how so much time has passed that i've not kept up with my blog.  I did a small show this spring and this is some of my art.  When I say small show, I do mean small.  Basically the shows main thing was plants in a beautiful setting at a local nursery.  There were only like ten vendors if even that so needless to say it was a no sales show for me.  None the less, it was a pleasant day and I did enjoy the beautiful plants and settings.

I love Paper Whimsy's collage sheets.  I worked this up on some of the K&Company paper background.  

A new angel drawing.  

I've started this art journal page but am stuck.  Will return to it in a few days.  " Stuff Happens!!!"

This is a page in my journal with pockets .  I've added a favorite Christmas card to  the pocket on the left .This angel is embedded in crackle paste and a wash of goldens acrylics over it.

This is a page in my journal titled Imaginary Friends.  I added a transparency of two little girls to the right.

This is a piece of clip art under a beautiful cathederal piece of cut work.  I added crackle to the picture and went over the cathederal with golden fluid acrylics.

I received this beautiful card of Our Lady from Pilar Pollock and worked it into my journal page. The card is Pilar's original work.  She is such a gifted artist.

Tagged by Mollye Self and Elizabeth Golden

I'be been tagged by Mollye Self and Elizabeth Gold.

Here are the rules. 

1. Link to the person or persons who tagged you.

2. Post the rules on your blog.

3. Write six random things about yourself.

4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.

5. Let each person know they've been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.

6. Let your tagger know when your entry is up.

Okay, six random things.

1.  I am terrified, not just afraid but terrified, of lizzards.  They are sorta like mini dragons to me.

2. I turned 60 today and still wear earth shoes and blue jeans.  You know, kinda like a leftover from the 60s.

3. I didn't get a drivers license until I was 21.   Not exactly sure why it took so long.

4. Am a junk food junkie.  I have however, stopped with the candy bars but love cake and pies and such......for breakfast, lunch  or dinner.

5.Love doing cemetery crawls getting photos of old, crumbly headstones.

6. Love horror films.  Not the new slasher stuff but the old black and white flicks.   Something  mysterious got lost in the new vampire/ghost movies.  

Six people I am tagging.

1. Sharon at http://www.allnorahsart.blogspot.com

2. Judy at http://www.judywise.blogspot.com

3. Zorana at http://www.zoranaland.blogspot.com

4.Cetta at http://www.cettacheese.blogspot.com

5. Ingrid at http://www.ingriddijkers.blogspot.com

6.Viola at http://www.saray-viola.blogspot.com

These blogs are wonderful eye candy and very interesting to read.  Enjoy.  

New Bag

I worked up this tote this week.  I like the face and the new hat style.  Now, to get more ready for my Etsy shop.

Ghost House

Happy Halloween to all.  I worked up this spread in a house book I've started.   My tombstones read "I'm outta here", Rip, and "Later Gator".   My real headstone will probably read "I'm so outta here" LOL  Toni

And Now....For the Utterly Ridiculous

I do not know what got into me to do this doll since I've not made a doll in the last several years. This took on a life of it's on, so to speak, because it definitely was not what I had in mind. Ah well, dolls have a way of doing that. The head is paperclay. I tore fabric in strips and made the body and arms.

Early Morning Mist

I caught this beautiful sunrise a few mornings ago.  There was a mist just over the meadow.

House

This is a new book to be altered.  I seem to have a strange fascination with house books.   I used a tarot card ordered from Alpha Stamps on the right side page.  She has the coolest stuff.  Now we know what I've been doing when I should have been working on art bags to sell.  Hmmmm, I think I have an attention disorder.  Cannot stay on track with anything.  

What I've done with my summer.

I got the bright idea to mount all my unmounts onto cling sheets.  I didn't even remember what stamps I had let along  how many.  Yeah, I'm still trying to finish up that monumental  task. I started ordering cling sheets and retrimming all my stamps onto those.  Now I'm putting "Tack It Over Again"  to the backs and mounting them with that stuff.  Much faster.    I did get my mounts out of boxes so I can see what I have.

Close up of the picture printed onto cheesecloth.
This piece is unfinished.  I will load another photo when I finish it.
Experimenting with cloth.  I coated a piece of fabric that I did not like with two coats of gesso.  then added spray washes (Tim Holtz) and embedded a piece of cheescloth I had ran through the printer.  Next I added crackle paste.

This is one of my favorites.  The names are written on the photo.  "Miss Billie" seems to be unable to make up her mind as to which cowboy she likes best.

I love this old train on the collage paper.

I found these old photo's in a antique store.  The guy on the far right is so handsome.  I'd have given some one a run for her money over this guy.

I started this altered book about a year ago and have made little progress.  I think I just get involved in too many other projects.  None the less, I've got a long way to go before finishing this book.  It is themed on old antique photo's.  I love the verse on the right page.  It is quite true,  I try to remember what the voices of my loved one's sounded like but only vaguely recall.

Altered Pages

After a very busy summer, I finally am back to art.  I will participate in a RR with the theme of Inspiring Women so am almost ready to mail my book.  I had to coax my granddaughter to help me get this stuff photographed but here is my first page and my sign-in pages as well.

Arte y Pico

 

I've been awarded the Arte y Pico award by Ellen.  Thank you Ellen, I am honored.

Arte y Pico is meant to be paid forward to five bloggers who you want to recognize for their creative talents, interesting material, and overall contribution to the blogger community...helping to make the world a better place, one blog post at a time! I've chosen five people I do not personally know but admire their work.

1. Gail Blair at paperwhimsey.typepad.com

2.Linda East  timelesstreasuresofleast.blogspot.com

3.Ro Bruhn  robruhn.blogspot.com

4.Corrine Stubson at glitz-oh!girl.blogspot.com

5.Karen Owen at karenink.typepad.com

If you have been selected for the award, please pay it forward, following the steps below:

1. Choose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award based on creativity, design, interesting material, and overall contribution to the blogger community, regardless of language.

2.Post the name of the author and a link to his or her blog so everyone can view it.

3. Each award-winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has giver her or him the award.

4.The award winner and the presenter should post the link of "Arte y Pico" blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5.  Please pot these rules!-Be my guest to copy and paste from here.

Art Jewelry

I have taken some of my favorite charms and beads and made a new necklace.  This is my first attempt at making jewelry and I really enjoy this.  I found the chain at a garage sale, needless to say I will be keeping a eye out for more pretty chains.

Gypsy travel sack

This is a new bag I have been working on this week.  It does not have inside pockets but is roomy enough for stuff I need to carry.

I will be working on these to add to my etsy shop this coming week.

New Gypsy Art Bag

I love these art bags.  I've added magnetic closures to the large pocket and to the bag opening.

New Visual Journals

I think there are times when we open a journal that is just a blank white page we mentally go blank as well.  I've added some visual interest and color to these.  Many times people just don't like to write in them so these are for drawing, doodling, etc as well as writing.

New bags

This piece is almost finished.  I will add beads and stuff then a cord strap.  

I set up at Canton, Tx.  , a huge market with all kinds of mixed arts, craft, jewelry, etc. and did awful.  I think the price of gas along with recession has hurt this place along with every place else.  Anyway I have been creating some cute bags with cord attachments and will give this thing one more try.

Carved Stamps

Two stamps I carved.  i stamped them onto fabric that has been rusted.

House of Vision

Inside of house.

Gypsy fortune teller.

House of Vision

This is a paper mache house I started altering in January. While it seemed it would be a fairly easy task, not so. The house lid had to have a lot of revamping to make it sit properly on the house.
Anyway I will upload pic's of the inside of the house later.
Front door.

Back side of house.

Front of house.

I'VE BEEN TAGGED!!! Okay, here goes!!!!

I've been tagged by gypsy frog. Suddenly I'm a total blank and speechless. Seven things about me, hmmmm. Are ya sure it's seven?????
1. I drive a screaming, shocking blue Beetle. It has taken me 30 years to finally get one. Let's face it, they are not exactly a family car so when I finall got my kids raised, and most of my grands out of car seats I finally got my dream car. (gotta remember, I'm from the 60's generation)
2. My first job was at a roller skate rink. I still love the look of the old white leather skates with the round metal stops. Wish I could still skate.
3.I've lived my whole life in Louisiana and have hated it my whole life.
4. I have two large tattoos. A black raven on my left leg and a gypsy with long flowing hair
on my right leg.
5. I made fiber art dolls for fourteen years before moving on to altered arts.
6. I love ballet and if I were 30 years younger, would be dancing it.
7. I love black and white movies and my favorite is "To Kill A Mockingbird".

The Rules:
1. When tagged, place the "tag-er" URL & name on your blog.
2. Post Rules on your blog.
3. Post 7 different things about yourself.
4. Name 7 of your favorite blogs.
5. Email or leave a comment for those 7 people so they know they've been tagged.

Jewels of the east
Ro Bruhn
Pilar
Kearymaryswords
karenink.typepad
Lams blog
Corinne Stubson

Velvet gypsy bag

This bag is made of velvet and has pockets on the front and inside the bag.  This bag is featured at my etsy shop.

Instructions for Crackle Technique

Tear off a piece of foil and crumple it then smooth it back out. Add a layer of gesso and let dry. Add a second layer and let that dry. Apply a base color acrylic and let this dry.
Apply a layer of crackle glaze. I used McCloskey crackle glaze.( If you use this brand, be sure to shake it well before applying.)When this dries, add another layer of acrylic color and the crackles will begin to show through.
I accidentally tore a large hole in mine and added the picture behind it. These directions were from R.J.Taylor.
I love this technique and think I'm becoming addicted LOL.  Toni
P.S. be sure to use heavy weight foil because the lighter weight will tear too easily. I add a few tears to put pictures behind but not too many.

Gypsy Art Bags

These are some of my Gypsy Art Bags. I hand draw the faces and embellish them out, then attach them to a large front pocket on the art bag. I further embellish the other pockets to compliment the gypsy theme.

Attention Deficit Disorder at Work

Well here I am back after a artistic crash along with a pending computer crash.

I did survive the holidays and even began a few projects, none of which are really complete yet.

My Artdoll is almost done as is my ATC book. I bound it with my bind-it-all and love that contraption. I used my graffiti paper to cover the back and front covers.

If I were to make a new year resolution, it would be to finish a project before beginning another one. That's not going to happen.

Letter to the Living

To those warm bodies still living,

Due to a constant gnawing of my conscience, I am prompted to put pen to paper and give fair warning to the living who still have time.
You may think you have all the time in the world
left, but let me assure you it is later than you think,

While I could write volumes on what to expect once on this side, I won't waste your precious time on
that but rather hope you will focus on the now.

Never question the reason for your presence on this great planet. You were given life as a gift from
God. Yes Virginia, HE IS.
You are exactly where you are supposed to be in
this great space in time.
I questioned everything, even His existance and was never satisfied with my place in life or time.

Never take the gifts given you for granted. You
are a unique being. There never has nor never will be another exactly like you. EVER.

Use your gifts wisely to bring forth your own
happiness and to serve others.
Yes, you are your brothers keeper.
I was lazy with my time and talent never using
my gifts to their fullest.

Never think you are owed a perfect life. Everyone
must suffer loss, setbacks, and much disappointment at times. These times bring you closer to God and
make you aware and thankful for the happy, peaceful
times.
I became bitter and never learned that there is a
balance to all things. Worst of all, I never looked
to God until trouble descended upon me.

Seek Love and Happiness each moment. Take
advantage of every opportunity to let others know
you love and care for them. You never know when this precious gift will be finished, complete and done with for either of you.
I left this world in the blink of a eye without time
to tell those I loved and cared for goodbye.



Remember, being happy is a twenty four hour a day
job. It will not be handed to you nor can it be
bought.
So, I end this with the hope that you the living will take heart to my words.
Do not squander time for that is the stuff life is
made of.
And.....Dance while you can, it's later than you
think.

Sincerely, A Voice From The Past

Letter to the Living Tip In

This is my tip in for a exchange on the OddArts yahoo group. The theme is letters from the dead. I had to do a second one because I misunderstood the correct size. Nothing like reading the directions correctly the first time lol.

Open windows. The scroll has a "letter to the living" written on it.

This is the front with the windows closed.

This is stamped images on black paper I embellished with gesso. I love that two ghostly figures show through.

I like the stamped images showing through. If you click on the picture, you can see the stamp of the girl looking through the grid.

Graffite Paper

This began life as a stripped piece of scrapbook paper that I did not like so I altered it into graffite paper. I really like this and now do not want to cut it up.

This is a drawing I did today. May try to work it into a art bag.

The spine of my RR fabric book. These are binder rings with beads wired on.

Gypsy Art Bag. I enjoy these but need to come up with something else to avoid burn-out on doing these art bags.

Back of Album

Back of album.

I finished this album over the weekend.

One of my students gave me this so I altered it to put on my embellished paper.

A bird in the hand etc, etc.

This is my first experience with beeswax. I like the foggy look it gives. I wish I had a pretty handwriting. A beautiful handwriting would be even better. This began life as a piece of foam core , as well as the "face in a crowd" piece.